Tightwads Tips for Saving on Mountainair Auto Insurance

No one in their right mind likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much. Drivers have multiple to pick from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to save money.

Buying car insurance in Mountainair is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. New Mexico drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to get comparison rates online.

Save big with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the best known as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

  • Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
  • College Student - Children who are attending college and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
  • Senior Discount - Mature drivers may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
  • Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in New Mexico, follow this link.

Mountainair Auto Insurance Comparisons

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices can be quick and easy. You just have to invest a little time getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  • The best way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method eliminates the need for repetitive form entry for every auto insurance company. Just one form compares rates direct from many companies.
  • A less efficient way to get quotes online is going to each individual company website and request a quote. For examples sake, let's assume you want to compare , and . To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.

    To view a list of companies in Mountainair, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but be sure to compare identical coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If the quotes have different liability limits it's impossible to find the best deal in Mountainair.

Mountainair Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Battle of the sexes - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Women and men tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage. They also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are most likely to cause an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
  • Traffic citations inflate rates - Just one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
  • Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - Credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. So if your credit is lower than you'd like, you could pay less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates - The more miles you rack up on your car each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is a little different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation might need an agent's assistance.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Mountainair?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

New Mexico drivers can't get away from ads for cheaper car insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing of big savings if you switch to their company.

How does each company say the same thing?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A propective insured who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who fall outside these standards will have to pay a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

A tidy conclusion

Cost effective auto insurance can be found on the web and also from your neighborhood Mountainair agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of information how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like .

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.

New Mexico auto insurance

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the New Mexico Insurance Division website. New Mexico drivers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, find out industry alerts, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Additional helpful sites include this site for New Mexico auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Mountainair.